MEDIA REACTION: SHARM EL-SHEIKH IRAQ SUMMIT, HAMAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000452 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SHARM EL-SHEIKH IRAQ SUMMIT, HAMAS SANCTIONS, EU-GCC RELATIONS ¶1. SUMMARY: Government-owned "Oman" says that regional cooperation is "vital" to stop violence in Iraq, and said that lifting the "blockade against the Palestinians" can advance the Peace Process. Privately owned "Al-Watan" calls on the EU to be "more understanding" of Arab political concerns, more independent, and less subject to "American pressures" on developments in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon, among other issues. END SUMMARY. -------------- BLOCK QUOTES: REGIONAL COOPERATION ON IRAQ -------------- ¶2. On May 4, state-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) published an editorial called "Sharm al-Sheikh and the Situation in Iraq": "The situation in Iraq is tense and presenting a huge dilemma to the American administration, which in turn is facing continuous pressures from the Democratic majority in the Congress. This means that President Bush is looking to the Sharm al-Sheikh summit for the support of the neighboring countries, especially Iran and Syria, to stop the violence that has been occurring in Iraq since the American invasion in April 2003. The American losses in this war are increasing and are expected to reach 4,000 by the end of the year. Regional cooperation is a vital issue and it seems that the American administration has realized that there is no other alternative. Therefore, regional cooperation to bring peace, security, and stability in Iraq is the main goal for the stability of the whole region." -------------- END THE "BLOCKADE" AND ADVANCE PEACE -------------- ¶3. On May 6, "Oman" also ran an editorial entitled, "The Urgent Need to End the Blockade in Palestine": "It seems [the lifting of the blockade against Palestinians] will not take place soon. Israel's policies and destruction of the Palestinians' infrastructure leads to results that are even worse than the blockade. Yet, as some EU countries have started to make calls on ministers of the current Palestinian government, they should acknowledge the importance of lifting the political and economic blockade for the sake of advancing the Peace Process, securing regional stability, and enhancing the relations between the Palestinians and other international parties. It is also worth noting that the suggestions given by the American administration to facilitate the Peace Process in the Middle East, provided that Israel is committed to implementing international resolutions, will certainly contribute to creating a proper environment for advancing the Peace Process." -------------- U.S. "PRESSURES" PREVENT E.U. INDEPENDENCE -------------- ¶4. On May 7, "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) wrote about the importance of the seventeenth EU-GCC ministerial meeting, to be held in Riyadh on May 8, under the headline "Europe Needs to Be More Understanding": "The GCC's relations with the European Union are long-standing and quite important, and the GCC countries continuously strive towards developing these relations, especially in the areas of economics and politics. Here, the importance of the seventeenth GCC ministerial meeting (to be held tomorrow in Riyadh) becomes evident... Despite the active EU-GCC relations, Europe doesn't share the GCC's concern with the steps being taken to stabilize [the Middle East]. This is despite the EU's power as a united block under one political umbrella, which has the potential to give it power and independence from foreign influences...but American pressures don't leave the EU any opportunity to take a more positive or independent position, particularly in regards to Palestine or Iraq... Europe needs to take a greater interest in the political side of things than it does now. The EU doesn't seem to realize the interest that GCC countries take in settling the security situation in the Middle East... Europe should be more cautious in attempting to divorce the political and economic tracks. Because Europe and the GCC share an interest in protecting their energy supplies, Europe should be more understanding and positive when it comes to dealing with the sources of Arabs' concerns, especially regarding political and strategic MUSCAT 00000452 002 OF 002 issues." GRAPPO